Pendle

Kick start for Brierfield Mill revamp

A MAJOR bid has been made to kickstart the possible regeneration of a landmark mill in East Lanashire.

Council bosses in Pendle and regeneration specialists PEARL are loo- king for nearly £1.5M to begin revamping Brierfield Mill.

Work could begin on overhauling former offices and the north-light weaving shed off Glen Way if the European Regeneration Development Fund application is successful.

Contractors have already begun stripping out the former Smith and Nephew premises and are expected to be finished by the end of March.

The experiences of generations of Brierfield workers, who worked side by side at the sprawling site, could also be captured with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Regeneration manager Julie Palmer said: “The mill offers enormous potential for a creative social history project, based around people’s memories and stories in connection with the mill.

“Council officers are liaising with a creative arts group who are exploring Heritage Lottery funding to undertake such a project.”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has also recently met with HLF officials to discuss possible options for the mill complex.

Mr Stephenson said later: “Brierfield Mill has huge potential to be a key driver of economic regeneration in Pendle so I wanted to meet with the Heritage Lottery Fund and set out just how vital this site is.”

The MP has also wrote to 150 families living around the mill to see what they would like to see developed there.

An exhibition is being finalised for either May or June where the building will be marketed to potential investors and tenants wishing to move into available property.